PIL writ filed over Latif Siddique’s remarks

Staff ReporterA writ petition of public interest litigation (PIL) was filed on Wednesday seeking court directives to bring Posts and Telecommunications Minister Abdul Latif Siddique to book and initiate case against him for hurting religious sentiments of the Muslims by his remarks at a reception in his honour in New York.Petitioner Dr Yunus Ali Akondo, a lawyer, in his application also sought court orders asking the government to sack Siddique from the Cabinet and form a judicial probe committee over his September 28 remarks.Cabinet, Law and Home secretaries, Dhaka CMM court and IT tribunal have been made respondents to the petition.Talking to reporters, Dr Yunus said the matter might be taken up for hearing at the vacation HC division bench comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice AKM Shahidul Huq on October 12.The remarks made by Siddique, also presidium member of Awami League, in New York triggered widespread criticisms both at home and abroad, embarrassing the government"Latif Siddique had reportedly said he was against Hajj and Tabligh Jamaat more than he was against the Jamaat-e-Islami. “During hajj, so much manpower is wasted. Over 20 lakh people have gone to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj. They’ve no work, no production and they only cause deduction.”“Some 20 lakh Tablighi Jamaat people get together annually who don’t do any work except halting traffic movement across the country,” he added.